Maternal Depression During the Birthing Journey

Maternal depression is a common and serious condition that can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth. Also referred to as perinatal depression, this mood disorder affects not only a mother’s mental and physical health but also family well-being and infant development. While maternal depression is treatable with support, many women go undiagnosed or do not receive timely care.

In this infographic, we highlight key data on maternal depression in Arkansas, including:

• Prevalence before, during, and after pregnancy.
• Utilization of emergency department and inpatient care for behavioral health events following childbirth.
• Gaps in follow-up care after crisis episodes.
• Recent policy changes and screening recommendations designed to improve early detection and treatment.
• Trends in postpartum depression screening rates.

For more on maternal and infant health in Arkansas, see our topic page.